St. Mark 6:30-56:"30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, 'This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.' 37 But He answered and said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' And they said to Him, 'Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?' 38 But He said to them, 'How many loaves do you have? Go and see.' And when they found out they said, 'Five, and two fish.' 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.' 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well."
All those whom our Lord touches are made well. Both those who touch the hem of His garment, and those who put Him to their lips in the form of bread and wine.
This pericope follows immediately upon the Evangelist St. Mark telling us the narrative of how St. John the Baptist was killed. We hear that the disciples return to our Lord Jesus and told Him all that they had done and taught. Our Lord tells them to come away with Him to a quite place for rest. For our Lord knows the burdens, and the hard work that preaching and administering His Sacraments is. We often see our Lord going off by Himself to a quiet place for prayer. Sometimes He even brings His three chief Apostles, St. Peter, St. James the Elder, and St. John. But here He brings His entire group of disciples whom He has called into His service. However, there is one point that is made here by the Evangelist St. Mark that is significant to the rest of the narrative, and that is that because of the coming and going of the crowds, and their desire to depart quickly from that place for some rest, we are told that they did not have time to eat.
Having departed to a quiet place, they didn't get much rest, for the crowds found them, and followed them. In this we see how desparately the people desired salvation. What joy that must have been to see people flock to him not by horse or carriage, but through the labors of one's feet! Imagine the congregation of today, who clings to our Lord's Word and works in such a fashion. Great would be the faith and love of that parish. And our Lord, seeing how they chase after their salvation, has compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Therefore, He acts as their Shepherd.
So our Lord Jesus and His disciples were back at the task, and didn't get a chance to eat. So when evening comes and the disciples desire to send the crowds away, saying, "Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat," we can almost sense that it was their own bellies that were grumbling with hunger pains. Therefore, our Lord Jesus, says, "You give them something to eat," knowing full well they do not have any food for themselves. The only food they have is provided by a small boy with five loaves and two small fish, which we learn from another Gospel.
Our Lord Jesus, however, does not say this to be cruel, or to mock the disciples, but rather to teach them to trust in Him alone, and to show them Who He truly is. Therefore, our Lord feeds the 5,000 men plus women and children in a fashion that is strikingly similar to the Lord's Supper. He blessed the food, He broke it, and He distributed it to the people through His holy Apostles. And the people received it, and ate their fill. Gathering up the remains, their were gathered together, twelve baskets. One for each of the disciples.
In this we see both our Lord's abundance, and His healing, for first He preaches to them; teaching them many things. So that He is seen has curing their souls. But here He cures their physical ailment of hunger. So He heals them both in body and soul. We too have this benefit from our Lord, for by His preaching and by His meal, we receive food for both our ears and our souls. In this our Lord acts as our Shepherd, showing His compassion on us inspite of our sins, by forgiving us by His Word and meal. So that all who touch Him are healed of their transgressions.
May God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
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